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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Military lobbying scandal: more embarrassment may be on the way | Military lobbying scandal: more embarrassment may be on the way |
| (30 days later) | |
| The wonder of the claims that former members of the military have been boasting of being able to lobby, perhaps inappropriately, on behalf of defence companies, is not that this activity is going on. | The wonder of the claims that former members of the military have been boasting of being able to lobby, perhaps inappropriately, on behalf of defence companies, is not that this activity is going on. |
| Or that member of the top brass might have been bending the rules set out in the advisory committee on business appointments. | Or that member of the top brass might have been bending the rules set out in the advisory committee on business appointments. |
| What seems most remarkable is that so many senior officers, some of whom spent their working lives devising covert schemes to bamboozle sundry enemies, were fooled by the Sunday Times. | What seems most remarkable is that so many senior officers, some of whom spent their working lives devising covert schemes to bamboozle sundry enemies, were fooled by the Sunday Times. |
| None of them appeared to smell a rat when representatives of a "South Korean defence company" approached them, or wondered why this firm was prepared to offer substantial sums of money (£8,000 a month) for what the military might call "old rope". | None of them appeared to smell a rat when representatives of a "South Korean defence company" approached them, or wondered why this firm was prepared to offer substantial sums of money (£8,000 a month) for what the military might call "old rope". |
| The revelations have undoubtedly embarrassed those involved, and cast into unappealing relief the way defence firms seek to employ, and then exploit, the knowledge and contacts of former generals, admirals and air chief marshals. | The revelations have undoubtedly embarrassed those involved, and cast into unappealing relief the way defence firms seek to employ, and then exploit, the knowledge and contacts of former generals, admirals and air chief marshals. |
| Some of those involved, Lord Dannatt chief among them, has been a thorn in the side of successive defence secretaries, raising legitimate criticisms of current defence thinking and the cuts that have been forced on the Ministry of Defence. | Some of those involved, Lord Dannatt chief among them, has been a thorn in the side of successive defence secretaries, raising legitimate criticisms of current defence thinking and the cuts that have been forced on the Ministry of Defence. |
| This furore gave the defence secretary, Philip Hammond, a wonderful opportunity to slap down the armchair generals, and he took it with great enthusiasm. None of them will find it as easy to make their concerns heard after this and Hammond will keep his foot on their necks for as long as he can with his investigation into the access lobbyists and consultants now enjoy. | This furore gave the defence secretary, Philip Hammond, a wonderful opportunity to slap down the armchair generals, and he took it with great enthusiasm. None of them will find it as easy to make their concerns heard after this and Hammond will keep his foot on their necks for as long as he can with his investigation into the access lobbyists and consultants now enjoy. |
| But Hammond isn't out of this yet. Labour has demanded to know which ministers have seen which lobbyists and further embarrassing revelations may come this week. Though it will be almost impossible to prove any "meetings" had a real affect on defence procurement, impression is important – and could be just as damning. | But Hammond isn't out of this yet. Labour has demanded to know which ministers have seen which lobbyists and further embarrassing revelations may come this week. Though it will be almost impossible to prove any "meetings" had a real affect on defence procurement, impression is important – and could be just as damning. |
| There is another important issue to consider. Under the defence reforms instituted last year, more power has been devolved down to service chiefs over how they spend the money allocated to them. | There is another important issue to consider. Under the defence reforms instituted last year, more power has been devolved down to service chiefs over how they spend the money allocated to them. |
| This is supposed to "empower" them and make it much easier for them to be held to account when budgets go awry, as they have a habit of doing in defence. | This is supposed to "empower" them and make it much easier for them to be held to account when budgets go awry, as they have a habit of doing in defence. |
| Theoretically, it also makes the chiefs more vulnerable to influence from former officers, some of whom might once have been their boss, working for defence companies peddling their wares. | Theoretically, it also makes the chiefs more vulnerable to influence from former officers, some of whom might once have been their boss, working for defence companies peddling their wares. |
| The carousel that sees former MoD officials and officers being taken on by defence and security companies has not turned any less slowly in recent years – the boardrooms are packed with them. | The carousel that sees former MoD officials and officers being taken on by defence and security companies has not turned any less slowly in recent years – the boardrooms are packed with them. |
| It may seem distasteful, but this is not going to change any time soon and, with the defence budget under such stress, the battle for winning contracts is going to be more intense than ever. So the process of procurements has to be more transparent than ever. | It may seem distasteful, but this is not going to change any time soon and, with the defence budget under such stress, the battle for winning contracts is going to be more intense than ever. So the process of procurements has to be more transparent than ever. |
| Having announced he was going to have an inquiry, and having taken his chance to embarrass men who had served with huge distinction during their time in service, Hammond now has to tighten up the rules. And he needs to do it fast. | Having announced he was going to have an inquiry, and having taken his chance to embarrass men who had served with huge distinction during their time in service, Hammond now has to tighten up the rules. And he needs to do it fast. |
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